Summary
We Are Family written by Nile Rodgers and performed by the Sledge Sisters Kathy, Kim, Debbie and Joni was released in 1978 at the height of disco's popularity.
Kim Sledge says it has become the anthem for diverse groups of people around the world who come together on the dance floor to form a family.
Professor Tim Lawrence says disco at its best was an inclusive music movement that welcomed people of all races and genders, unlike rock music which in the early 1970s appealed to a predominantly white male audience.
We Are Family epitomised dance music's appeal to traditionally marginalised groups in the USA - African Americans, Latinos, women and gay men.
Listen to the stories of some of the people for whom the song is linked with some of the most significant experiences of their lives.
Produced by Maggie Ayre.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2019.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | The Traitors is back and so is that mysterious cloaked figure with the familiar fringe. |
| 0:06.7 | Yeah, it's me. |
| 0:07.9 | And when you've watched Claudia in the castle, join me, Ed Gamble, for the official visualised companion podcast. |
| 0:13.7 | And remember, I'll be listening. |
| 0:15.9 | Okay? |
| 0:16.7 | No, seriously, I love it. |
| 0:18.5 | What a faithful. |
| 0:19.7 | We'll unpack betrayals and spill scandalous secrets with celeb guests, traitors' legends, |
| 0:25.0 | and murdered and banished players. |
| 0:27.1 | The Traitors Uncloat. |
| 0:28.4 | Watch on EyePlayer, listen for more on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:33.2 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:37.4 | If you had told me that life would be this wonderful, BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:45.2 | If you had told me that life would be this wonderful over a year and a half ago, I would have been absolutely shocked. |
| 0:52.9 | We have a beautiful daughter who is so fun and joyful to be around. |
| 0:57.1 | Our relationship is better than I ever thought it would be. |
| 1:03.0 | We really do have a beautiful life. It may not be easy, but we're happy. |
| 1:16.2 | The song to me growing up, I was a boy of about 10 years old when the song first came out. And it was a very feel-good song, |
| 1:28.3 | and I loved it at the time and since. But up to the point of my recovery, it was just a feel-good song to me. And it really just took on a whole new meaning to me and the lyrics. |
| 1:35.3 | And I've got all my sisters with me. |
| 1:39.3 | We your family has seemed to have taken on such an anthem type quality. It's been the teen song, |
| 1:46.8 | it's been the family reunion song, it's been the school song. Because it's more than a song. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.